I originally designed the Marvel conversion in the late 1990’s. Generally I was pleased with the design but, I knew at that time that there were many improvements that needed to be made.  However, before those changes were made, I left the company ( or was “dismissed” from Marvel Precision [mp]).  During this ‘break” a lot of other situations occurred that slowed any serious business progress and  which also  effected my ability to finish all of the custom pistols in a timely manner. I now have a new association with Advantage Arms.

Advantage Arms came out with a 1911 conversion that had great potential and that was based on my original design. A pistolsmith, Bob Brown, was working with Advantage Arms at the time that I got involved.  I suggested design changes that have now  been adopted by Advantage Arms.  These changes improve the life and functioning of the conversion to make it more enjoyable and reliable to shoot.  One of the greatest improvements is the magazine,  AA did a great job on the designwith minor changes on my part.

Advantage arms will be selling an improved model of my original  design directly to the customer or though companies that  wish have a high quality .22 1911 conversion.  I have tested the “out of the box” AA conversion with thousands of rounds,and I am pleased with the results.  The AA target model (“out of the box”) will hold X –ring at 50 yards with most good “off the shelf” ammo [more about this later on].  Because it fits in a holster I suggest the AA Commander for an excellent training weapon for IDPA, USPSA, law enforcement and self-defense.

Bob Marvel ~ Marvel Custom Pistols

1975  ~  University of Nebraska-Lincoln  B.S. Pre-Law/Psychology.

1970-1990 ~  Student and/or Teacher Okinawan and Japanese Karate-do, Iaido, Kendo, Aikido.

1980-1985 ~  Shot IPSC finishing as an Class A shooter

1981-Present ~  Started study of the 1911 pistol and began building pistols.

1984  ~  Wrote 300 page text on the 1911 pistol regarding each part of the 1911 (not published).

1986-Present ~  Wrote training/shop manual (not published).

Late 1980’s ~  Designed products to be sold at Brownell’s (Marvel sear jig, comps and fixtures)

Early 1990’s ~  Built a limited number of pistols for an elite unit.

Starting in the 1980’s to present he has been known for building Bullseye pistols.  His guns have won over 24 national championships titles and set over 40 national records.  His guns have also won World speed shooting titles and a World title in the Bianchi Cup.

From the 1990’s to present he has built defensive and offensive weapons for the military, law enforcement and the general public as well as the general public.

Beginning in the early 1990’s to present he has worked with or helped various companies with specific problems in design and functioning of weapons.

In the late 1990’s he began training a limited number of people using his methods to build 1911 pistols.

In late 1998 he designed the Marvel 1911 .22 conversion.  There were 3 models of the 1911 conversion.  While he was still involved with the original company, Marvel Precision, the average 5 shot group size at 50 yards with over 1000 units was .628”.  During this time period, he also designed a new sear jig and ten other products that are no longer under his control.

In 2001 he helped design an AR-15/M16 .22 conversion unit that shot 10 shot groups of .400” and better at 50 yards.  (Not currently on the market)

In 2003, due to serious differences with the management of the company he founded, Marvel Precision, he stopped being involved with the original Marvel .22 conversion company (who, sorry to say, is still using his name).

From 2007 he began working with Advantage Arms developing a new 1911 .22 conversion unit that has 23 changes from his original design of 1998.  The newest .22 conversion is now on the market as the Marvel Custom Pro.

Currently he continues to advise other pistolsmiths and companies.  He is currently designing new products.  He also has continued to build all forms of the 1911 pistol for Special Forces and the general public.  In 2009 he became involved with the Navy UDT/SEAL Team Memorial project.

To date there have been no malfunctions reported on any of his military pistols in either training or combat with tens of thousands rounds fired.

He is currently working on his book called “The 1911 Pistol – The rest of the story”.

Beginning in 2010, he will begin to teach 1911 pistolsmithing to a limited number of students.

Up to this time he has turned down requests for articles about his pistols.  Articles will be written beginning in 2010.  He can be contacted via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Website:www.bobmarvelcustomguns.com

The .22 conversions can be found at www.bobmarvel22conversion.com

Affiliations: Goshin-do Karate-do Kyokai, lifemember of the NRA, member of the NSSF and of the American Pistolsmiths Guild.